The Star Guard Mission [3] {Edited}

Naruto and Neji made their way to the epicenter of a massive chakra eruption in the Valley of the End...

"Have you seen Hinata or Tenten?" queried Naruto.

"No, not since we split up..." Neji responded.

"Do we need to search for them first...?" Naruto questioned.

"Not the best plan, Naruto. We have to be on the move, and trust me, Hinata and Tenten can fend for themselves." Neji clarified.

"Guess you have a point.." conceded Naruto, "Still, can't help but worry with their earpieces out of commission..."

"I understand, but let's keep our eyes on the prize - the star..." advised Neji.

"Roger that..." Naruto agreed.

Back in the Valley of the End...

The ninja from the Hidden Star Village were unsuccessful in their attempt to overpower the mysterious masked figure.

The masked man easily broke free from the grasp of the Hidden Star Village ninja, leaving them defeated, including Sumaru...

The masked man advanced towards Sumaru, who was sprawled on the ground, "R...return our...star...Give it back.." Sumaru demanded weakly.

With an ominous gathering of chakra in his hand, the masked man prepared to strike Sumaru. Suddenly, a kunai whizzed past, causing the masked man to retreat a step...

All of a sudden, Naruto made his appearance at the kunai's location and caught it. "Just who do you reckon you are, a mister or maybe a missy?" Naruto quipped, booting the masked ninja in the stomach and sending him flying a good distance away.

"Naruto..." Sumaru uttered.

"Can't decide if I should call you an idiot or... well, an idiot. You're risking your teammate's life and you still aspire to be the Hoshikage?" Naruto inquired, a cheeky smile on his face.

Sumaru remained silent.

Neji positioned himself next to Naruto while the masked ninja conjured a purple chakra around him...

"Maybe you should consider unmasking before getting your rear end handed to you..." Naruto suggested with a smirk.

The shrouded ninja held his tongue...

"There's something oddly familiar about this cloaked figure's chakra..." thought Naruto.

As Naruto was deep in thought, the cloaked adversary suddenly hurled his chakra assaults, manipulating the surrounding energy to strike at Naruto and Neji. However, the onslaught was thwarted before it could even reach Naruto. Naruto seized the chakra, swinging it like a lasso and casting the cloaked ninja a short distance away.

Without missing a beat, Naruto launched himself at the cloaked adversary, his attacks largely deflected by the energy shield around the figure. But as Naruto's speed increased, his strikes started to break through the chakra barrier and land on the cloaked ninja.

The cloaked figure was on the brink of defeat under Naruto's onslaught. Seeing this, Naruto attempted to unmask the figure. Suddenly, a dazzling light, akin to the radiance of a star, engulfed the area. Naruto was momentarily distracted, and when the light receded, the cloaked figure had vanished.

Naruto scanned the area, but the cloaked figure was nowhere to be found. "Typical... These cowards always make a run for it..." Naruto muttered, returning to Neji and the unconscious ninjas from the Hidden Star village.

"Where could Sumaru be?" Naruto questioned.

They scanned their surroundings but Sumaru was nowhere in sight.

"Byakugan!" Neji declared, his eyes showcasing the unique prowess of his clan. "The ninja with the mask has taken him, soaring into the valley," Neji reported.

"Should we give chase?" Naruto inquired with a tone of casual nonchalance, a touch of his confident mischief slipping through.

"We lack masks, Naruto. You're aware of the consequences if we venture there unprotected, aren't you?" Neji retorted, his voice steady and serious.

An uneasy silence fell upon them. After a pause, Naruto broke it, "What's our next move?" he asked.

As Naruto and Neji stood there, Neji suggested, "We should get them back safely..."

"Agreed, but..." Naruto began, only to be interrupted by the arrival of Hinata and Tenten, who rushed towards them. "What on earth happened here?" Tenten asked, panting.

"It's a long tale. We'll fill you in on the way..." Naruto replied.

Later, Naruto's team carried the Hidden Star village ninjas back home.

"And that's how our masked antagonist got away...and sadly with Sumaru." Naruto explained to Hinata and Tenten, with Hokuto also present.

Hinata and Tenten then recounted their own experiences, detailing how they had been keeping tabs on Akahoshi and had been captured by two Star village ninjas, before managing to escape.

"Hmm..." Naruto murmured, deep in thought.

"What's on your mind, Naruto?" Hinata inquired.

"I can't shake the feeling that I've encountered that masked ninja before... His chakra signature was eerily familiar..." admitted Naruto.

"Do you remember where you might have met him?" Hinata asked.

"That's the problem... I can't recall..." Naruto confessed.

As the conversation continued, Neji stood by Mizura, who was still lying down.

"Mizura is unwell and has taken a break from training," Hokuto informed.

Neji acknowledged Hokuto with a nod before turning back to Mizura and activating his Byakugan.

"What is this...?!" Neji pondered, noticing an abnormality in Mizura's chakra.

At that moment, Mizura stirred.

"Mizura!" Hokuto cried out as Neji moved to sit beside Mizura. "How are you feeling?" Neji asked.

"You need to rest more..." Hokuto insisted.

"I can't afford to rest now..." Mizura protested, coughing again.

"I understand how you feel, but you mustn't overexert yourself!" Neji cautioned.

"I'm fine... I can manage on my own..." Mizura insisted. He got up and started to walk towards the door, clearly struggling. He tripped, but Hokuto was there to catch him. "Mizura! Didn't I warn you?!" she admonished, helping Mizura to walk outside.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the village...

Sumaru was sprawled on a bed, an oxygen mask draped over his face, unconscious. "Could it be the fumes from the Valley of Death that he breathed in?" One of the ninjas standing alongside queried.

"No..." The ninja wearing a mask interjected, pulling off his mask to reveal his identity - it was Akahoshi. "I had put him in a suspended state before any harm could occur. There's no damage done to him." Akahoshi clarified.

"I get that we're using Sumaru as bait... But involving a youngster from our own village..." Another ninja protested.

"Is that causing you discomfort?" Akahoshi questioned, "We are comrades who have already stained our hands. What's the point in playing saint now?" He retorted.

"We'll trick those Leaf Village brats into thinking that Sumaru's abduction is the handiwork of that individual... Once we reclaim the star, they can handle the aftermath." Akahoshi schemed, "However, I must admit, the blond kiddo is quite the thorn in our side. We need to keep an eye on him for our plan to go smoothly." Akahoshi declared with a sly grin.

Meanwhile, after tending to the unconscious ninjas from the Hidden Star village, Naruto stood outside, still racking his brain trying to recall the masked man and why his chakra felt familiar.

"Naruto," Neji called out as he approached him.

"What is it?" Naruto asked.

"Mizura's life is in danger if this continues," Neji said. "I sensed a disturbance in his chakra and investigated. Even though he appeared calm, his chakra was being pushed to its limits. If this continues, he will die from the strain on his own chakra."

"I wonder what could be causing it. Maybe someone right here can shed some light on the situation..." Naruto suggested with a smirk, just as Hokuto emerged from behind a nearby tree.

"So, you've been keeping tabs on us, huh? That's not exactly how you do it, just saying. Anyhow, how about you fill us in on this Mizura situation?" Naruto suggested, a playful smirk on his face.

"It's because of the star training," Hokuto explained as she walked towards Naruto and Neji. "The star has the power to amplify chakra. However, many shinobi struggle to control this intensified energy. Their bodies break down, leading to death. Mizura is also caught in the middle of this training..."

Hokuto paused for a moment before continuing, "The third Hoshikage halted the training due to the high number of casualties."

"But it's still ongoing!" Neji exclaimed.

"Lord Akahoshi, the current village leader, decided to resume the training a year ago," Hokuto revealed.

"And why would he do that? Isn't it dangerous?" Naruto questioned.

"Those born and raised in our village do not fear the star training!" Hokuto proclaimed.

"Well, Hokuto, that's quite the inspiring speech," Naruto said sarcastically. "Who wouldn't want to risk their lives for a bit of star training, right? It sounds like such a fair deal to me."

Hokuto was taken aback by Naruto's words. "Naruto, this is not a matter to be joked about!"

Naruto waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, I'm not joking. I'm just amazed by the courage you all possess. Or is it foolishness? I always get those two mixed up."

Hokuto glared at Naruto. "You wouldn't understand. You're not from our village."

"You're right, I don't understand," Naruto admitted. "But then again, I'm just a simple guy who loves hot ramen and peaceful days. What do I know about training that could potentially kill me?"

"If they can complete the training on their own and give their all for the village as Hidden Star shinobi... Even if their bodies are destroyed, they would find satisfaction," Hokuto declared.

"Guess it's about time I say 'cheers for the info' and make my exit..." True to his words, he promptly departed from the vicinity. As he left, Neji made his way into the home.

[A.N: I'm moving at a gentle pace, not quite sure of the direction just yet. I'll be back when inspiration strikes. Thanks for your patience, and if you're enjoying the story, please do leave Powerstones - they're a big help. Feel free to drop reviews and add this to your library too.]